Opinions
The Taliban's Strategies of Intimidation and Their End Goals for Political Change
By Sowieba Abadi
The Taliban emerged in 1994 as a movement of religious students whose initial mobilization was framed around ending Afghanistan's civil war and restoring order. However, after gaining power, the movement's behavior diverged from its earlier rhetoric, revealing a shift from a conflict-ending narrative towards the consolidation of political authority. After seizing power, the Taliban combi...
Annexed and Erased: How Herat’s Distinct Identity Fuels Women’s Resistance
By Abdul Basir Azimi
Herat, the historic oasis city and recognized intellectual capital of western Afghanistan, has long been celebrated as a cradle of poe...
From Purim to Nowruz: War, Memory, and the Necessity of Iranian-Israeli Dialogue
By Dr. Davood Moradian
Within the span of a few weeks this spring, three moments of profound spiritual meaning unfold across the Jewish and Persian worlds. Jewish communities celebrate Purim, commemorating the survival of Jews in ancient Persia. Shiite Muslim...
World Observed: International Day of Education - Have Afghan Women Been Forgotten?
By Neelapu Shanti
“Education is a human...
What I Saw in Mashhad
Visiting Iran during the unrest in January, I found the accounts of both state and opposition media to be exercises in cognitive dissonance.
